Apparatus for mixing or blending grain.



w. H. HONEY. APPARATUS FOR MIXING 0R BLENDING GRAIN. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I9. T913.

1,145,215. l PatentedJuly 6,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

@fda/Kfm W. H. RONEY. APRARATUS Foa ,MIXmG 0,3. BLENmNG GRAIN.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I9, H93. l 1,145,21 5. Patented July 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WILLIAM H. HONEY, 0]?v GABY, INDIANA.

`.a'r'linenarus ron. lamme on BLENDING GRAIN.

sirable to mix together two or more batchesof grainof dierent qualities, and in such case it is not sufficient to merely put the' different batches of grain into the same bin, but it is necessary to intimately mix or blend the batches together so that a perfect and uniform mixture'of even quality will result.

It is the object of my invention to produce an improved apparatus for effecting the intimate and thorough mixture of grain.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 isa vertical sectional view illustrating a portion of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmental plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view'illustrating a portion of the apparatus which is positioned beneath that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan View of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3.

Grain is supplied to my improved apparatus from any suitable source of supply which may bea bin or receptacle fed b an elevator leg (not shown). The grain ows from this source through a conduit 5 into a rotary hopper 6 having a funnel shape bottom. This hopper is fixed upon the upper end of a vertical rotary shaft 7 which is mounted in suitable bearings 8 and 9 in a supporting structure 10. The hopper shaft 7 may be driven from a source of power through suitable means such as a shaft 7 and beveled gears 7". The 4supporting," structure 10 may be located upon one floor 11 of a'building, the walls of which are indicated at 12. 0n said ioor around the supporting structure 10 is located a series of bins 13 adapted to receive grain, the bottoms of said bins being hoppered as at 14.

Suitably supported on the structure 10 beneath the rotary hopper 6 is an annular trough 15', thebottom of which is divided into a plurality of hoppers 16. These hoppers have downwardly converging side walls, and the adjacent walls of two adjacent hoppers form a ridge 17 of inverted Specication of Letters Pat-ent.

Patented July 6, 1915.

'Application led September 19, 1913. Serial o. 790,604.

V-shape. A plurality of spouts 18 are fixed to rotate with the'hopper 6, the upper ends of said spouts communicating with the bottom of the hopper, and the lowerl ends of the spouts overlying the annular trough 15, andv if desired extending a short distance thereinto. Preferably', three or more of these spouts 18 are provided in order to properly balance the hopper 6 in its rotation. Grain ,is conducted from the individal hoppers of the annular trough 15 through a series of spouts 19, the lower ends of said spouts lying above the respective bins of the series 13. y

From the hoppered bottoms of the bins 13, the grain is led through conduits 20 into a common hopper 21 from which the grain then may be led through conduits 22 to any desired place. I have herein shown the conduits as leading to cleaning mills 23. A suitable valve structure 24, located at the bottom. of the hopper 21, is controlled by a shaft 25-and a handle 26 to direct the grain from the hopper 21 into the desired one of the conduits 22.

In use, grain is. supplied to the rotary hopper 6 through the conduit 5 and passes from said hopper through the spouts 18 into the annular trough 15.` Inasmuch as the spouts 18 are constantly rotating with the hopper 6, the grain will be evenly distributed about the annular trough 15 and will pass from said trough throughv the spouts 19 into the separate bins 13. Since the lower ends of the spouts 18 at all times overlie the trough 15 and owing to the hoppered construction of said trough and the ridges 17 between the individual hoppers, no grain will be spilled' or lost from the spouts 18, but the grain will vcertainly be discharged into one or another of the hoppers 16 of said annular trough. From the bins 13 the grain which has been thus scattered or separated is again collected through conduits 20 into the common .hopper 21. from which it may, if desired, be led to a suitable cleaning mill. This apparatus accomplishes effectively a thorough and intimate mixing or blending of grain. It will be noted that the apparatus is simple in construction and durable, so that it is not likely to get out of order.

While I have herein disclosed that embodiment of my invention which I prefer, it should be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the appended claims to the exact form shownin the drawings I claim as my invention:

1. A grain-blending apparatus comprising a rotary hopper, a stationary arcuate trough divided into a plurality of `compartments, `and providing a dividing ridge between each two adjacent compartments, and a spout' communicating at its upper end with said hopper and arranged to rotate therewith, 'the lower end of said spout overlying said trough.

2. A grain-blending apparatus comprising a hopper mounted for rotation continuously in one direction, a' .stationaryv series. of hoppers arranged in a circle in a plane beneathV the. first-,mentioned hopper,

' hoppers located above said and spouts leading from and rotating with the first-mentioned hopper and having their lower endsl overlying said series of hoppers.

3. In an apparatus for blending grain, the combination of a series of bins, a series of bins and arranged on the arc of a circle; spouts leading from said hoppers and discharging into the respective bins, a rotary hopper, and a spout rotating with said hopper and arranged to conduct grain therefrom and discharge it into saidannular series of hoppers.

4. In an apparatus for blending grain, the combination of a horizontally arranged series of bins, an annular trough positioned abovel said bins and having its bottom divided into a plurality of hoppers, spouts leading from sald hoppers and arranged to discharge grain into the respective bins, a rotary hopper positioned in a plane above said trough, and spouts rotating with said hopper and having `their upper ends communicating therewith, the lower ends of said spouts overlying said trough.

5. In an apparatus for blending grain,

the combination of a rotary hopper, a spout leading therefrom andI rotating.therewith, stationary receiving means positioned be.- neath the path -of the lower end of said spout to receive grain therefrom continuously during-the travel of the spout, a plurality of receptacles positioned beneath said receiving means, and conduits-leading from said means and arranged to discharge into the respective receptacles. v l y 6. In a Igrain-blending apparatus, the combination of va rotary hopper having a funnel shape bottom, va spout communicating with the bottom of the hopper and arranged to rotate therewith, a receptacle arranged on the arc of a circle -beneath the path .of the `lowerend of'said spout, a plurality of bins beneath said receptacle, and

combination, a receptacle having a a definite path, a receptacle arranged be-v neath the path of said spout to receive grain therefrom, a plurality vof conduits leading froml said receptacle, and means to receivegrain' from said conduits. y

8. In a grain-blending apparatus, the combination of a hopper, a discharge spout communicating therewith and arranged to travel on thearc of a circle, an arcuate trough positioned beneath the path of the lower end of said spout, a plurality of conduits leading from dierent points along said trough, and means to receive grain from said conduits.

9. In a grain-blendingapparatus, in

pluralof conduits leading from dierent points therein, means to discharge grain into said receptacle, a series of separate bins to receire grain from said conduits, and a comity .mon hopper communicating with allI of said bins. v

10. Ina grain-blending apparatus, in combination, a series 'of receptacles, means for continuously supplying grain equally to said receptacles, a plurality of bins, conduits leading from spective bins, and a common hopper arranged to receive grain from all of said bins.

' 1l. In a grain #blending apparatus,xthe combination of a stationarysystem of hoppers and communicating conduitsarranged to provide a plurality 0f separate lfixed paths for the grain,` a movably' mounted grain-containing element arranged toy distribute the grain into the various paths, and

a receptacle arranged to receive the blended' grain from all of said paths'.

12. Ina grain-blending apparatus, the

combination of a stationary system of hoppers and communicating conduits arranged to provide a plurality of separatel fixed paths for the4 grain, a rotary hopper, a discharge spout per and arranged to distribute the grain therefrom into said paths, and a receptacle arranged to receive the distributed grain from all of said paths. l l

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. RONEY.

Witnesses: l

WILLIAM C. GAKE, DELLA CRoNxHrr,

the receptacles to the refl communicating with said hop- Y 

